Free CPR classes offered to public

The El Paso Fire Department is teaming up with the Drowning Prevention Coalition of El Paso to host a free CPR class for the public.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in Texas, with four out of five cardiac arrests happening at home, according to the fire department.

The department said it is important for people to be able to administer CPR during these life-threatening events while help arrives.

The hands-only CPR class will be held Saturday at the Fire Training Academy, inside Ascarate Park at 6800 Delta Drive. Classes will be offered every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone who completes the 20-minute class will receive a free pass to any El Paso pool and a lunch meal prepared by fire Chief Mario D’Agonstino and his staff.

The class is open to adults and children ages 4 and up.

There will also be a giveaway of 100 day passes to Wet N’Wild Waterworld.

“The emphasis is to teach people to get involved when they see an emergency by first calling 911 and then doing hands-only CPR until help arrives,” said fire paramedic Martin Dominguez. “It just takes five minutes to learn citizen CPR, but hopefully those who take this class will want to take a full CPR class in the future.”